Air pollution leads to multiple diseases; experts

Chandigarh, November 29, 2023: “Air pollution is affecting our health adversely. Pollutants in smoke enter our lungs and stimulate multiple chemical reactions there hence our bodies bear the brunt of it.”

Dr. Surinder Kumar Gupta, associate director pulmonology and sleep medicine at Paras Health, Panchkula said that air pollution is a mix of hazardous substances from both human-made and natural sources.

“Vehicle emissions, fuel oils and natural gas to heat homes, by-products of manufacturing and power generation, particularly coal-fueled power plants, and fumes from chemical production are the primary sources of human-made air pollution,”

Dr. Surinder further said that the health concerns from air pollution include cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory diseases, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and reproductive, neurological, and immune system disorders.

Pollutants in air generate fine particulate matter PM2.5 which on entering the bloodstream causes harm to the body and leads to multiple diseases, he pointed out.
The most common diseases related to smoke, pollution and PM2.5 include asthma & breathlessness, TB, general health problems, skin infections, eye problems and cancer, he informed.

Dr Robin Gupta, consultant pulmonology Paras said that crop residue (prali) is one of the major causes of air pollution. Pollutants contain heavy metals like potassium chlorate, sulphur, arsenic sulphite, aluminium and copper which spread in the air and when fog sets in with the onset of winter , these particles form smog ( smoke & fog).

Smog is very detrimental to our health and is one of the main causes of increased diseases during winter months, he maintained.

Dr Robin said that those suffering from asthma or allergic bronchitis should stay away from places where the concentration of fumes from burning is at the highest. Stop smoking as it will keep your lungs healthy so that they can fight the ill effects of air pollution, he asserted.

Consider wearing a mask if the level of air pollution is very high and you still need to go outside, maintained Dr. Surinder.

Check the air quality index (AQI) before going outside. AQI more than 100 is dangerous to our health. AQI can be checked online as levels are mentioned in many websites. Better move out when levels are low and stay inside when levels are very high, he informed.